Improvement in broom-sewing machines



l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.. L. VARICAS.

Broom Sewing Machine. No. 204,864. Patented lune 11,1878. e

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. VARICAS. Broom Sewing Machine. No. 204,864. Patented lune H, 1878.

' FIG. 5

FIG- 6 N:FEIERS. PHOTO-UTHOGHAFNER. WASHINGON. a. c,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. VARICAS. Broom Sewihg Machine.

Patented June11,1878.

FIG.11.

FIG.1Z.

W1INESSES,

NITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL VARIAS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, OALIFOBNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BROOM-SEWING MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent NO. 204,864, dated June 11, 1878; application filed' February 23, 1876.

T0 all uhom it may concem:

Be it known that I, LIONEL California, have invented a Machine for Wrapping and Sewing Brooms, termed a Broom- Sewing Machine, cf which the following is a specification The first part of my invention refers to an arrangement of a rocking bar fitted with movable broom-clamps,wherebysaid broom-clamps are made to osc1llate within carriages attached to a travelmg rack-table, in such manner that as this table is moved backward or forward these clamps may be made to oscillate in a direction at right angles to that followed by the rack.

' The second part of my invention refers to an arrangement of gearing on the driving- 'backward or-forward on their common shaft,

and controlled for that purpose by anothcr sleeve actuated by acam-grooved drum, said drum being operated by movements periodically imparted to it by a ratchetwheel and toothed bar connected directly with the driving mechanism. By the proper adjustment or shifting of these keys, the rack 1Dechanism is made by them to move the rack-table, with broom-carriages and broom-clamps, backward or forward by long or short movcments, as

' may be required, for the several operations of wrapping and sewing or stitching With twine the brooms within these clamps.

The fourth part of my invention refers to the rocking bar, provided With curved ribs or cams, to which the sleeves of the broom-clamps are fitted, said clamps having theirfaces cnrved 'equally and in the same manner as each of these r1bs or cams on the rocking bar, with the difference, however,thait the clamp-faces VARICAS, of the city and connty of San Francisco, State of are serrated or provided With teeth, and also curved in an opposite direction to those of the rocking-bar cams; the object of this part of my invention being, first, t0 cause the hinding-twine from the sewing mechanism to as snme a curved form on each broom held in its respective clamp, by being made to follow each such curved clamp-face as a guide; and, secondly, to admit of a double loop-stitch from the stationary sewin g head of the sewing mechanism, being stitched through each broom on both sides A of this binding or wrapping twine, one stitch thus taken being made between any two of these teeth on one side of this binding or wrappirig twine, and one Without the teeth on the other side of this twine, but exactly opposite to the first stitch, the contrary or opposite curvatures of these r ibs and clamp-facesbeing for the pnrpose of al ways bringing the cnrve-shaped twine wrapping into position under and betwe'en the sewipg-needle and shuttle as operated*from the stationary sewingmechanism head,

. The fifth part of my invention refers to a scalloped key, provided with horns and recesses, in combination with a movable bar, provided with springs, sheave-roller, and toothed bar, or their equivalents, whereby the ratchetwheel aforemcntioned, that is employedfor the pnrpose of operating and regulating the movements of the cam-grooved drum fitted to the keyed sleeve that actuates the rack With 'broom-clamp mechanism, may be revolved t0 a certain extent at Certain .defined intervals,

the whole arrangement of the parts being s0 contrivedthat one key is only allowed to op- 'erate the rack mechanism at a time, and each key is made to followin its order, viz., first, one key for causing the broom-clamps to move in one direction, so that a broom may=receive its first-wrapping; secondly, anothcr key for reversing this movement for a second wrapping to this broom; and, thirdly, the key for short movements when the loop-stitching for securing this double wrapping is to be made.

The sixth part of my invention refers to an arrangement of a disk provided with projections, whereby a yoke, providd also With projections, is made during the revolution of this disk to operate at certain intervals a cluich,

such ;pawls areoperaied by levers actuated in turn by the shifting set of keys aforementioned,.the long movements hein g for the purpose of allowin g each broom to be double wrapped With ordinary broom-twine, and the short movements for the stitehing to each broom of such double wrapping.

Theeighth part of my invention refers to a table provided Wltll broom-oarriages, fitted With broom-clamps, so arranged as to be made to travel baekward and forward on astand or frame, fitted with a stationary head, having certain sewing or stitching mechanism attached thereto, whereby brooms placed in these clamps may be by this mcchanism either wrapped on stitched, or both: wrapped and stitched.

Withreference to the drawings, Figure-1 is a longitudinal vertical elevation of the broom sewing machine embodyin g m y invention. Fig, 2is an end or side elevation of the same. Fig, 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of Fig.

1, the front portion of the frame being re= moved. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is aplan of Fig. 1. Fig.

6 is a plan With a portion of the top covering removed. Fig. 7 shows the position of the:

broom in one of the clamps also the point where the needle first pierces the broom in starting. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show the progressive stagesof the stitching, respectively.

Fig. llis a view ofpart of the machine on an en,

largedscale, for exhibiting plans of the broomclamp and carriage or sleeve, rocking bar, keys no 19, sleevefor shifting these keys, with thelug forming part of this sleeve, levers directlyengaged by the keys for actuatingthe rack mechanism, cam-grooved drum for engaging this sleeve, cam-grooved drum for engaging;this rocking bar, and gearing directly operating the sewing mechanism. Figs. 12 and 3are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of the broomclamp,and mechanism more immediately connected therewith. Fig, 14 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of the rack-mechanism gear.

This machine is for the purpose of doing away;with direct hand-labor in bothprocesses ofwrapping and sewing brooms, whereby the flattened shapegven to brooms by clamps for that purpose is preserved.

Hitherto it has been the custom to place each;broominits unfinished state separately into a vertically-fixed:clamp provided with movahlejaws, and to press such broominto hape by levers fitted to this clamp then nextto wrap it round by hand twice with broomtwine close to the lips of these jaws; and, finally, to stitch the broom With needle and twine, the needle being forced through the broom, so as to carry the stitching over the wrapping or bindin g twine, and to secure it in place in conjunction With the broom-corn, pressed into the required shape. In this last process of stitching brooms by hand theworkman is obliged to place leather guards on his hands to enable him to pierce without injury to himself, and With suflicient force, the broom thus hein g sewed, thereby involving considerable labor and loss of time.

I propose by this machine to make such labor much li ghter, and to save time in the manufacture of brooms generally, by adaptin g certain mechanism, to be hereinafter described, to these wrapping and stitchn g processes, whereby such mechanism may be under the control of a single cran]: or treadle, as in ordinary sewing-machines, or belt driven by power.

The following is a desoriptionof the several parts of this machine audits mode of operatin g: X X is a strong metallic frame, for holding the various pieces composing the machine. One side of this frame is fitted with a top plate, W, which serves as a kind of table, and a stationary sewing or stitching machine head,

Y, to which the levers 3 3 for operatng a needle g with spring, are arranged in somewhat similar manner to that in ordinary sewing-machines. The levers y y are engaged by a cam, l, actuating a guide-rod, 2, fitted thereto. A shuttle, Z, beneath this plate is operated by a bent lever, 3, fitted to another cam-drum, 4. Both these cams, 1 4, are attached t0 a shaft, f, so that this shaft is made to actuate the sewingmechanism portion of the apparatus.

Each broom to be wrapped and stitched has its handle inserted through a met-allie tube or sleeve, a, so as to hax e the broomcorn within a shaping and holding clamp, A, to which this sleeve is attached, Figs. 2, 4, and 12. For this purpose the upper jaw b of the clamp is raised by means of a lever, c, attached to arms 61. When the broom-corn of the broom has been properly adjusted, the lever 0 is forced up by hand, and the broom is then both pressed into its proper shape and firmly held for the wrapping and stitching operations. A broom being fixed in this manner within each clamp, themechanism is next arranged With the various parts into proper starting positions, as shown in the several figures. A crack or drivingwheel, B, is then turned in the direction indicated by the arrow. A spur-wheel, C, fitted to the crank-shaft M, actuates a pinion, 6, which is keyed to the shaft f of the sewingmachine mechanism, which, hein g put in motion, causes the' needle 9, Fig. 1, to pierce the broom and form, With the shuttle-thread beneath, a double 100p, such 100p being thus taken one stith or space from the edge, Fig. 7. When the With the ratchet-wheel.

' needle rises t0 a heightsnfficient to clai the broom the sewing mechanism ceases. byreason of the withdrawal of a slidin g clutch, D, from contact With. the spur 0. This is effected by a yoke, E, actuated by an inclined projection, h, attached to a disk-wheel, F, which wheel is keyed to a shaft, G, Fig. 1. To this shaft G is also attached a scalloped key, H,

-wh-ich is regulated in its movements by the spur U, actuated by a pinion, V. This key' H, by acting on a sheave, i, Fig. 3, is the means of throwing ont a bar, I, and also at} the same time of drawin g a serrated or toothed, bar, j, over, and thereby actuating a ratchetwheel, J. The bar I is pivoted at one extremity to the frame of the machine. spring, m, arrests the momentum of. the rachet-wheel J, and another spring, a, causes a positive engagement of the toothed bar j This wheel, beingj keyed to a shaft, k, on which is also fastened a cam-drum, K, Figs. 6 and 11, causes thisj cam-drum to revolve. This drnm K is provided with a cam-shaped groove, l, into whicli groove is fitted a pin, m, that is attached toj a sleeve, L, fitted onto the driving-shait M; This sleeve L envelops the central portion of another sleeve, to which certain keys, n o 10, are attached, and is itseli withheld from revolving by a lug, r, Figs. 2, 6, 11, and 13, one end of which lug is provided with a ring, so as to admit of it sliding backward or forward on a bar, 8, Figs. 6, 11, and 13. By the revolu: fion, thon, of this drum K the sleeve L is made to push or slide backward or forward an inner sleeve, to which these keys are in common attached, this inner sleeve being grooved to fit to a ieather, q, provided on the shaft M, for the purpose of allowin g of these keys being shifted to and fro, as may be reqnired. .By

these means, in the first place the key 0 is brought forward, so as to fall over and actuate a lever, N, which, in turn, acting on an arm, t, fitted With a pawl, u, drives a ratohet-wheel, 0, and, consequently, a spur-wheel, P, to which this ratchet is attached. wheel P is made to actuate a rack, Q, to which are attached two or more clamp-carriages, R R R. This key 0 is provided With a bit or spur, of sufficient length to .causethe lever N to actuate the pawl t u, ratchet and spur wheels 0 P, respectively, and rack, WiLh broom-carriages Q R R R, a distance for this rack equal to the full breadth of a broom, so that suoh broom may pass olear of the needle 9 by one stitch, such as the 1ack-table is made afterward to travel dnring the broomstitchin g process.

In order to efiect this mov'ement and subser qnent movements of the rack-table, the rack mechanism described has the arm t, provided A with a spring, k, which spring is attached atone end to the machine-frame X X, and is for thepurpose ol brin ging this ar1n t back to its pririnary position on its being released from 7 the -lever N, while a spring, l, causes a posi- The spur tit*e engagement'of the pawl u of this arm t With the ratchet-teeth of the ratchet-wheel 0. When the arm t takes its primary position, the pawl u is run onto a lug or bolt attached to the frame, Which acts as a shunt, 0. This arrangement of ratchet wheel, pawl,

actuating-lever, springs, and shunt Ot M N k l o, respectively, is duplicated on the other side of the spur-gear P, for prodnc1ng a reverse or opposite movement of the racktable. when required. This is effected by having the spur-gear P and attached ratchetwheelsfitted loosely to their common shaft,

while the shunts o o throw Out of gear their respective pawls alternatelythat is to say,

. while one is operating the other is thrown off onto its shunt and also, only one of the keys n o 11 is shifted into position at a time for engaging one of the actuating-levers to these pawls. The rack-table having now been shifted a distance snflicient to pass a broom its full breadth and a stitch-space under the sewing-needle g, and the inclined projection IL, Fig. 1, having also at the same time passed the projectionv of the yoke E, Fig. 4, allows this yoke to be pulled back to its original position by means of a spring, w, thereby impelling the clutch D to an impingement with the loose spur-wheel C, and by this means again throwing the sewing-machine mechanisfi1 into gear. At this stage the needle 9 is a second time brought down, and a second loop formed With the shuttle-twine, thus completing the first wrapping, Fig. 8. As soon as thisloop has been made, the sheave a, by following the contour of the scallOped key H, by means of the pressure ofthe spring y, is'made to enter the first scallop 2, Fig. 3. The toothbar j then slidesover the ratchet-wheel J for another movement. A second inclined-plane projection, a, now impinges on the promotion 4), and the sewing mechanism is again thrown out of gear. By the continuons movexnent of the key H the sheavez is made to traverse v the second horn I); and by means ofthe toothed bar j and mechanism already described, the key p, Figs. 6 and 11, is now brought into position, and its spur falls onto a lever, S, which lever actuates the ratchet mechanism on the reverse side of the spur-gear P. (Sec Figs. 6 and 14:.) By the action of this key on this lever S the rack-table Q is moved backward, and the broom is made again to traverse its full breadth under the needle 9, and one stitohspace clear, the needle taking np the slack of the second double loop. About this time the inolined plane a is made to pass clear of the projection 12, the sewing mechanism is again starter], and a third double loop formed ontside of the broom, thus completing the double or second wrapping. The third horn 0 of the scalloped key H now comesinto play, and, acting on the toothed barand ratohet mechanism described, causes the cam-gro0ved drum K to shiit the keys n 0 p into the original position occnpied by them before startin-g,

'Figs. 6 and 11.

now passed the sheave i, the sewing mechanism remains in gear; and as the keys a 0 p have been shifted so as to bring the shortspurred key a into position for actuating thelever N by short movements, the stitching by which time thescalloped key Will have made a revolntion, and again be in its original position for the succeeding broom.

The sleeves a attached to the broom-clamp carriages R are each provided With pins d 6', which are made to engage a raised rib or cana, or series of cams, f, fixed onto a bar,l. This bar T, by being pivoted to the frame at eaclr end g and h, is made capable of being moved or rocked back ward and forward on these pivot-points. At the lower branch or frame part of this rocking bar a pin, i, is so attached as to fit into and be actuated by a cam-shaped groove of the revolving cam-drum j, which cam-drum is attached to the main or driving shaft M.

This rocking bar is for the purpose of giving the clamp carriages movements at right angles to those given to them by the rack Q, thus causing the needle to pierce the broom alternately on each side of the binding-twine. Each of these clamp-carriages A has its lower face end, and also the corresponding face end of the cover b, curved, such curvatnres being the same as each of those of the ribs or cams f of the bar T. but made in an opposite direction.

lhe object of these contrar; forms of curvatare of rocking-har rib f and clamp-faces is to constantly allow of a broom-clamp receding a distance equal to the advance of its curved face from a straight line, thereby always brin ging the double binding of wrapping-twine into position under the stationary needle-head Y of the sewing mechanism; also, to allow of the curved-face end of the clamp, With cover, serving as a guide to the twine taken by both needle and shuttle from the stitches made at each end of the broom, to give the proper curved shape or form to this double wrapping or binding described.

lhese curved faces of both clamp and clampcover are also indented, serrated, or provided with teeth Tlxese teeth are to allow of the needle, when piercing the broom placed within its clamp-carriage, first entering on that side of the wrapping nearer the broom-handle or sooket, and consequently between these teeth 90 and close to the line of this wrapping, Figs. S, 9, and 10, and next at the second stitch on the other siole of this wrapping, and so on continuously, by reason of the forward and backward movements imparted to these clampcarriages at certain intervals.

These intervals are regulated, in order that the stitching that secures this wrapping shall be of a double binding or encompassing 100p The scalloped key havihg' and zigzag form, and depend also on the following parts of the general mechanism.

The spungear G, being fitted to the shait M, is arranged so as to engage a p1mon,e. This pinion is made to actuate the sewmg mechanism through the shaft f, to which it is attached, in such manner that for each revolution of the spur C a certain number of revolutions of the pinion 6 is efiected, and conseqnently a certain number of stitches are sewed throngh or onto the broom during that same interval.

The movcm ents, however, of the rockmgbar are so regulated by the inclined directions given to the cam-groove of the drum j that, alter a stitch has been made through the broom first on one side of the wrapping-twine, and the needle has risen clear of the broom, the sudden incline of a portion of this camgroove causes the rocking bar T '17 to draW the bro omcarriage clamps quickly backward in a direction at right angles to the length of the racktable or breadth of the broom.

Another stitch is then immcdialy afterward made by the needle and shuttle on the other side of the wrapping-band of tWine, thus making adouble stitching and enveloping 100p to this double wrapping-band; and as, the sewing-mechanism hcad is stationary Wh1le the broom being thus sewed has been drawn backward at right angles to its breadth, such binding-loop to the double wrappmg-band will be also at right angles to it.

On theneedle g again rising elear ofthe broom, the camdrum j being continually in motion, its cam-groove Will gradually draw the rockrng bar back again to its primary position durmg the time that the needle g is raised above the broom; but during this movement the key, with short spur a, is brought into posflnon at the rcquisite time during itsrevolutwn, so as to fall onto the lever N, and such lever, on being thus actuated, Will, by the rack mechanismdescribed, shift the rack-table, Wlth brooms, a space equal to the distance between each loopstitch reqnired on the broom. 1

At about the completion of the reyolution of the cam-drum j the needle agam commences to descend, and Will pierce the broom in the same relative position as at starting, preparatory to making another envelopmg- 100p. Consequently both needle 9 and shuttle Z, on commencing to form the next stitch, will have carried their connecting-thads across the double wrapping-band, thus giving the finished stitching a double envelopingdoop and zigzag stitching appearance, as shown in Fig. 10.

A broom-sewing machine such as described may be provided With two or more brownclamp carriages, the limit to the number of such clamps being defined simply bycohvenience with regard to the size of the machine and the strength of the rocking bar T.- One With a dozen such broomclamps would be an ordinary machine for factory use.

When the rack-tablehas progressedto the end of its travel in one direction, and has passed all the broom-clamps holding brooms under the needle, so that each broom may have received a double wrapping of twine and stitching of the same, it is necessary that another line of wrapping and stitching should then be made on each broom, as a majority of the brooms handsewed have two lines of wrapping and stitchin g, for properly preserving the broom-corn in shape.

In order to eftect this, each broom-clamp is loosened snfficiently to enable the workman to adjust each broom by its handle to the requisite position for such second double line of wrapping and stitchin g. The clamps are then again fastened down, and the mechanism of the machine adjnsted so that it may wrap and stitch on the return or backward movement of the rack-table. This is arranged by shifting the keys n op, so that instead of allowing the lever that actnates the rack-table in a positive direction to be employed, that key only Will be bronght into play that engages the lever that reverses the direction of the rack-table, thus forming a backward wrapping on the last broom. The next shifting by the ratchet-wheel J Will produce a positive movement of the rack-table. Aforward wrapping of the broom and another shiiting of the keys by the action of this ratchet-wheel and mechanism connected therewith Will cause a backward stitchingof this broom, tobefollowed by a backward wrapping of the next broom in order, and so on till the rack-table With brooms has been 'brought back again to its original starting position.

I claim as my invention 1. In a broom-sewing machine, the combination of the rack-table Q, fitted With carriages R R R and geared to the spur-gear P, With attached ratchets 0 0, the pawls u t u t, With springs for engaging these ratchets, the fixed shunts o 0, the movable clamps A, provided With onrved serrated faces w w, covers I), and tightening-levers c d, sleeves a a, provided With pins d e, fitted to the ribs of the rock ing bar T f f, the levers N S, keys n op, sleeve with 111g and pin L T m, and sliding bar 8, cam grooved drum j fitted to the key-shaft, cam-grooved drum K With ratchet-wheel J attached to the shaft le, the scalloped key H 1) oz, provided With sheave i, springs, and toothed bar j I, the disk F, provided With projections h a, and the yoke E, provided With projections c and springs, and the clutch D, for operating the loose gear O, fitted to the swing-mechanism gear e f, all arranged as herein set forth.

2. In a broom-sewing machine, the combination of the rocking bar T 46 f, fitted by sleeves a d 6 to the movable broom-clamps A A and to the traveling rack Q, provided With With fixed sleeve casings or carriages R R, substantially as and for the pnrposes herein set forth and specified.

3. In combination With the sewing-mechanism gear 0 e f, the rocking bar T j 73, fitted With holding-clamps A a A a described, and to the cam-grooved drum j, attached to the driving-shaft M, substantially as and for the pnrposes herein set forth and specified.

4. The broom-clamp A, provided With cover b, curved serrated faces ac, levers c (1, and broom-handle sleeve a, all construted and arranged as shown, substantiafly as and for the purposes herein set forth and'specified.

5. The keyed movable sleeve n op described, fitted to the feathered shaft M q and to the outer sleeve L, provided With pin m and lug 7', With sliding bar 8, all arran ged as shown, in combination With the direct-acting cam-grooved drum K, and the mechanism, or its equivalent, for operating the traveling rack Q, with broom-carriages B R R, consisting of the levers S N, pawls u t u t, springs k l k l, With ratchet-wheels and spur-gear 0 O P, respectively, snbstantially as and for the pnrposes herein set forth and specified.

6. The rockin g bar T '5', provided With ourved ribs or cams f f f, fitted to the movable clamps A a A a, said clamps being provided With toothed or sorrated faces ac .90, cnrved in an opposite direction to that of these ribs f f f, all combined as shown and described, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and specified.

7. The scalloped key H b 0 z described, fitted With bar l, provided With sheave z, springs m y, and toothed rackj, in combination With the shaft le, provided With ratchet-wheel J, and

grooved cam-drnm K 1, that actuates the keyed sleeves L n op, all arranged as herein set forth, whereby, by these keys no p being timed by this scalloped key in their action on the levers 0perating the rack mechanism, said keys may be made to regulate long and short forward and backward movements of the broom carriages and clamps, as reqnired.

8. The disk F, provided With projections h a, in combination With the yoke E, fitted With springs w, and provided With the projection 21, and the clutch D, for impingement on the loose gear 0, all arranged as shown, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and specified.

9. The shunts o o, attached to the broomswing-machine frame X X, in combination With the pawls u t u t, and ratchet-wheels 0 0, With spnr-gear P, geared to the racktable Q, provided With broom-carriages R B, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and specified.

10. The pawls u t u t, fitted with springs la l k l in the manner described, in combinanation With the ratchet and spnr wheel gear 0 O P, respectively, geared to the rack-table Q, fitted With broom-carriages R B, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and specified.

11. The traveling rack table Q, provided With fixed carriages B R and movable broomclamps A a, in combination With the needle and shnttle mechanism fitted to the stationary sewing-machine hcad Y, substantieflly as and for the purpcscs herein set forth and specified.

12. In a. machine for sewing brooms, thc combinati0n, substantially as specified, of the follomng elcments, Viz: first, a sewing-mach'me operafuing intermittingly; second, a, broomclamp mounted 130 lanerally reciprocate on a. tmversng fced-carriage; thrd, mcch anism for traversing the feed-carriage and laterally reciprocating the broomclamp at prcper times and in unison With the movcmcnts of the nce- (116 to first wrap and then st-ch the broom. LIONEL VARICAS. Witnesscs:

J AMES L. KING, CHARLES BUCKNER, J1. 

